The Drum Set Styles Encyclopedia: An Introduction to Essential Styles/Time-Feels for the Modern Drummer

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, John Thomakos began playing drums at age six. He

graduated from the Baltimore School for the Arts as a Percussion/Music Major with a

scholarship award to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a

Certificate with Honors and an award for Best Funk Drummer from the Musicians

Institute, Percussion Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, California.

John has since continued a successful professional career as a freelance drummer,

author, and teacher. He has written two drumset method books: Drum Back-Beats

Encyclopedia, published by Alfred Publications, and The Drumset Styles Encyclopedia,

published by Mel Bay Publications. He has also written instructional material for Vic Firth

and Modern Drummer Magazine.

John’s musicianship and versatility is

reflected in his demanding performance

schedule. He has played for a wide variety of

extraordinary artists ranging from New Orleans

guitar superman John Mooney, to the Baltimore

Symphony Orchestra. His recording discography

also shows his versatility in a wide range of

styles with a variety of exceptional artists

including Carl Filipiak and Billy Kemp. He has

recorded music for a variety of radio and

television commercials as well as music for

television shows including Brooklyn South,

That’s Life, Homicide, and The Young and the

Restless. He has also played on sound tracks for

the Discovery Channel and for various movies

including The Smokers, About Sarah, and The

Girl Next Door.